Antiquity Lodge No.571 was born at the time of the great wave of interest in Freemasonry that followed the horror of the Great War that ended in 1918. Our Grand Lodge experienced an unprecedented increase of 7,000 members in 1919 and 9,000 in 1920.

The release of hundred of thousands of young men who had been under arms for years and learned the value of true comradeship formed the source of the flood seeking the refuge of the Craft. This, together with the comforts and peacefulness of Masonry after the holocaust of the trenches and the deadly seas, made this refuge seem more attractive.The stage therefore was set for the creation of new lodges especially in Ontario.

And so it was with happy thoughts of a prosperous future in mind that a number of companions of Antiquity Chapter No. 91 G.R.C. under the leadership of W.Bro. H.S. McHenry, who, having the welfare of Masonry at heart and wishing to further the interests of good fellowship in both Masonic bodies decided to form a symbolic lodge.

Early in the year 1920 thirty-eight brethren signed a petition to the Grand Lodge seeking dispensation to form a new lodge, which dispensation was received from the Most Worshipful the Grand Master on June 5th, 1920.

These brethren were greatly assisted in their quest to be granted a charter in the name of "Antiquity" by their good friend and adviser M.W. Bro.Colonel William Nisbet Ponton, M.A., K.C., who was, at the time, the Deputy Grand Master.

The first meeting of the lodge was held on June 16th, 1920, the Lodge being opened by R.W. Bro. E.W. Saunders, D.D.G.M., District 11B, Toronto. W.Bro. F.C. Dann was chosen as the first Master soon to be replaced by W.Bro. James A. Spring. who continued in the Chair until the end of 1921.

The ceremony of dedication and consecration on November 16th. 1921 was conducted by M.W. Bro. W.N. Ponton who by then had been elected and installed Grand Master. He was assisted by an impressive array of Grand Lodge Officers.

Among those present was Bro. William James Dunlop whose subsequent interest in Antiquity Lodge was to have many beneficial and far reaching effects. He soon became Master of University Lodge and in 1927 District Deputy Grand Master. Like R.W. Bro.Saunders he was to serve as installing master six times and was a constant source of advice and council until his death in 1961.

On September 16th, 1920 the first two candidates were initiated, they were: Edward James Hopkins - Artist and Joseph Samuel Cremer - Manager, and admitted by affiliation Bro. John Thomas Lester, Manager.

The first initiate to attain the Chair of King Solomon in his own lodge was W.Bro. Frederick George Shelley who was initiated February 7th, 1923 and installed as Master in 1931.

By the year 1924 it had become apparent that a significant number of members were employed by the Toronto Newspaper industry. It was therefore decided to hold a press night which was continued for twenty years with the meeting being held usually in October. Famous entertainers performed in the banquet room and celebrated speakers graced the rostrum. On press night in 1931 close to 400 masons heard Sir Thomas White talk on "The Old Days in Toronto', Newspaper World".

One or two early pre-institution meetings of the lodge were held at the Masonic Temple on College St., Toronto, but when dispensation was granted, the lodge moved to new quarters at 888 Yonge St. were it remained until 1936. The first meeting of that year was held at York Temple, 5 Eglinton Avenue East. Another move was made in September, 1964 when York Temple was re-established at 1100 Millwood Road.

In the early years of the lodge, visits were exchanged with many sister lodges in Southern Ontario but no recurring visits were established until April 1934, when a group of Antiquity members travelled to North Tonawanda, New York, to visit Sutherland Lodge. No. 826 F. & A.M. In October the Toronto Brethren were honoured by a return visit, thus establishing a custom which continued for many years thereafter.

V.W.Bro. Alexander N. MacDonald was the first initiate to be honoured by Grand Lodge, when in 1938, the Most Worshipful, the Grand Master together with a degree team of present and past Grand Lodge Officers, awarded him the position of the Grand Swordbearer.

Also in 1946 Antiquity saw the second of her sons to receive Grand Honours when V.W.Bro. Walter Sellors was appointed Grand Steward.

It is impossible to give credit to all the brethren who done Antiquity's work through the years but must be content to thank the giants who have walked with us for a while.

God grant that brotherly love may flourish forever in Antiquity Lodge.